Born in High Prairie, Alberta, Joe Chodzicki spent his early years surrounded by family and tradition. He is the son of Margaret Laboucan and grandson of Delphine Erasmus, whose roots trace back to John George Erasmus and Marguerite Noose-key-ah of White Fish Lake, Alberta. Now based in Red Deer with his partner Beverly, Joe is a proud father of two and grandfather to three granddaughters.

Joe’s career has been as diverse as it is grounded in hard work, from managing bingo halls and running his own supply business, to driving long-haul trucks and supervising for Red Deer Transit.

Joe has been involved in Métis governance for more than 30 years, serving in local leadership roles with the Métis Nation of Alberta, including as Vice President and Local President. In 2005, he was elected as Vice President for Region 3.

In 2023, Joe was acclaimed as the Citizens’ Representative for the Red Deer Métis District in the Otipemisiwak Métis Government, and shortly after was appointed by President Andrea Sandmaier to serve as Secretary of Citizenship and Registries. He takes great pride in this work, supporting one of the most accurate and advanced citizenship registries in the country. Part of his responsibilities in this portfolio is maintaining the integrity of the Registry department. That includes ensuring the National Definition of Métis is met while maintaining a robust Registry database. Another goal is working on Registry department accessibility throughout Alberta. We accomplish this by hosting Registry Drives throughout the province. Be sure to visit www.albertametis.com/events to see when a Registry Drive will be in your District.

“Thanks to the leadership of our Registry team, our government has a world-class registry system that Métis Citizens can be proud of,” said Secretary Chodzicki. “This is a role I take seriously, because our registry is at the heart of who we are as a Nation.”

Joe will have two new roles within the Nation. As part of the recent cabinet restructuring, he was named Acting President, as well as a Governor for the Métis National Council. As it is required in the constitution, the President designates a member of Citizens’ Council to serve as Acting President, should the President be unable to fulfill her duties.

Whether connecting with Citizens at local events or supporting strategic initiatives at the national level, Joe is committed to helping build a strong, respected Otipemisiwak Métis Government.